Tooth position and speech--is there a relationship?
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Updated: Oct 19, 2026

Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
1Bristol Dental School, University of Bristol, UK.
Abstract:
Although it is widely accepted that teeth play an important role in speech production, the relationship between tooth position and speech remains controversial. This review paper examines the relevant studies and discusses the difficulties of scientific investigation in this area. The ability of patients to adapt their speech to compensate for abnormal tooth position is recognized, but the mechanisms for this adaptation remain incompletely understood. The overall conclusion is that while certain dental irregularities show a relationship with speech disorders, this does not appear to correlate with the severity of the malocclusion. There is no definitive proof that alteration of tooth position can improve articulation disorders.
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